Definitions

gǎo (verb) to do; to handle; to take care of
gǎo (verb) to set up; to establish
gǎo (verb) to get hold of; to obtain

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "搞" is a phono-semantic compound comprising the hand radical (扌) and the phonetic component "高", which signals its pronunciation. It entered the written language during the medieval period, initially conveying meanings tied to manual handling or stirring actions. Over centuries, its semantic scope widened from these physical contexts to encompass a general sense of doing, making, or engaging in activities, both concrete and abstract. This expansion has solidified its role as a flexible and commonplace verb in modern Chinese, while its structural composition has stayed unchanged, with no distinct traditional form preceding it.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在卫生。

Tā zài gǎo wèishēng.

He is cleaning.

我们了一个派对。

Wǒmen gǎo le yī gè pàiduì.

We threw a party.

请你清楚情况。

Qǐng nǐ gǎo qīngchu qíngkuàng.

Please understand the situation clearly.

这件事得很麻烦。

Zhè jiàn shì gǎo de hěn máfan.

This matter has been made very troublesome.

他们正在一个新项目。

Tāmen zhèngzài gǎo yī gè xīn xiàngmù.

They are working on a new project.

科研需要耐心和毅力。

Gǎo kēyán xūyào nàixīn hé yìlì.

Doing scientific research requires patience and perseverance.

错了会议的时间。

Tā gǎo cuò le huìyì de shíjiān.

He got the meeting time wrong.

这个问题很难定。

Zhè gè wèntí hěn nán gǎo dìng.

This problem is hard to solve.